Valdes not surprised at Yaya success

Barcelona shot-stopper Victor Valdes admits he is happy to see his former teammate Yaya Toure thrive at the Etihad.

The two played alongside each other at the Camp Nou for three seasons, before seeing the Ivoirian make a switch to Manchester City.

Valdes, who will face Toure in the second-leg of the Last 16 in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, says he is not surprised to see the midfielder succeed at the club.

"Here, Yaya started as a holding midfielder and he had a way of playing that suited what Pep (Guardiola, Barcas former coach) wanted from a central defender, so he played there, too, Valdes told the Daily Mail.

"But his strength is carrying the ball forward and that ultimately means you have to be playing further forward.

He protects the ball so well  and now you are all discovering something that I already knew only too well: he has some shot on him. I learned about that in training a long time ago!"